Power-transmission apparatus.



E. E. WHITE. POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1911. 1,017,355, Patented Feb.13,1`912.

SHEET 1.

4 SHEETS n H. E.l WHITE. POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS. I

.APPLIUATIONVPILED JAI. 25, 1811.

Patented Feb.413, 1912.

4 sums-snm' WITNESSES H. E. WHITE. POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS. APPLIoATIoN FILED Jnma, 19151.

4 WITNESSvES WITNESSES H. E. WHITE.

POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1911.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

4 Sanus-snm 4.

INVENTCR yianiiaimn'r E. wnr'rE, or YoUNG'srowN; oHIo.

POWER-TRANSMISSION APPARATUS.Y

x Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Eenfis, 1912.

Application filed Januaryz, 1911. Serial No. 604,573.

To all` whom t may com-crml -Be it known that I, HERBERT E. WHITE, a resident of Youngstown, in the county o f Mahoning and State of Qhio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Power- Transmission Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,

in which- Figure -1 is a. longitudinal sectlon ofa .power transmission apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. v2 isa section on the line II-II of F i'g. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the movable piston blades;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the reversing and'-4 distributing valve, looking from the pum side of the apparatus; Fi 5 is a longitudinal section taken on a dierent plane from that o f Fig. 1, being on the line V-V of Fig. 2; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sectionson the. lins VI-VI, VII-VII and VIII--VIII,

, respectively, ofFig. 1; Fig. 9 v"is a side ele- `vation of the apparatus with vthe outer casing removed; Figs. 10 and .11 are sections taken on the lines and XI-XI, respectively, of Fig. 1; Fig."12 is a side elevation ofthe apparatus; Fig. 13 is a perspec- .tive diagram looking from the pump end,

and showing the arrangement of ports and the circulation therethrough; Fig. 14 is a .pers ective view of` one of the. regulator mem ers; Fig. 15 is a similar view of one of the filler pieces with the cam track therein; and Fig. 16.is a perspective view of the carrier element of the pump. The arrows on Fig. 1 indicate the direct-ion of view of the several sections taken thereon.

My invention relates to power transmission apparatus of the class in which a'liquid is employed as a medium of power transmission, and is designed to provide apparatus of this character by'means of which the speed of the driven member may bewidely varied without changing the lamount of power transmitted.

A further object of myinvention 1s to provide power transmission apparatus which will eliminate the use of .change gearings, such as are ordinarily employed, and to provide means applicable for a varlety of diiierent uses.

The nature of my invention will bebe'st understood by reference to the accompanyjecting studs 14, having rollers 15 ing drawings, in `which I. havelillustrated the preferred embodiment thereof, and whichwill now be described,'it being pre-A mised, however, that various changes may be made in the mechanical construction and arrangement of the several parts by thos'eQO skilled' in the art, without departing from the spirit and fined in the appended claims. In these drawings, the numeral 2 designates `a driving shaft which may b e ldriven by aprime motor of lany Suitable or usual character.A

3 is a driven shaft to which transmitted from the shaft '2.

4 designates an outer shell 'or'casing having end caps 5, provided with stuiiing boxes 6, for theishafts 2 and 3, where they pass therethrough.

power is Ato be prevented from rotating in any other suits'cope of my invention'asdeis a circular bloclf which is -tlxedly se cured to the right-hand cap 5, or which is able manner. 7a is a similar block, which is secured tot-he cap at the opposite end.

8 isa. circular filler piece which is separatedfrom the inner'side of the block 7 by aspace in which the pump elements presently to be` described are mounted,-and 9 4 is a circular block'which abuts against al central-extension 8a tween which and the inner face of the block of the block s, and be' 7L are mo-unted the motor elements presently to be described. The shaft 2 is provided with suitable bush bearings 10, in the blocks 7 and 8, and the shaft 3 is providedfwith similar bush bearings 11, in the blocks. 7*? and 9.

The pump comprises a carrier 12, which is mounted on the shaft 2 betweenthe blocks J7 and 8 and which is formed with-a plu- -tracted as the carrier 12 is rotated with the shaft 2.

The motor which is mounted on the shaft proios

A 3 between the blocls 7 and. 9 isV of similar .construction to the pump, and `consists of a carrier, as 17,-having radial slots to receive the blades 18, which are similar to the blades 13, first' described, and which are provided with similar studs l4and rollers 15, the latter traveling in cam grooves in the opposed faces of the blocks which cam grooves are the same 1n form as those of the blocks 7 and 8. Theblades or vanes are also provided ywith grooves or other openings 19, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Placed -within the outer casing and held against rotation, but free to have a limited longitudinal jmovement therein is an inner casing which is shown as composed ofthe two end members and 21, and the intermediate member 22, upon the end portions of which the end members are v screw-threaded. The end members 20and 2l are separated from the periphery ofthe pump or chambers `23`and 24, respectively. ,Ar ranged in the chambra23 inside of the casing member 2O and secured'thereto to move longitudinally therewith, is a regulating member 25, having therein a plurality of slots to. receive the edges of 'the blades or vanes when thel latter are' projected; and

placed .in the vspace or chamber 27 and se.

- .cured tothe casing section 21 to move longitudinally therewith, is

a similar 'regulating member 26, also having slots to receive the blades' or vanesof the motor when the latter are projected. e

27 is -an annular space withinthe outer casing at one end of the end casing member 20, and 28' is a 'similar space between the inner casing member 21 and the adjacent cap These two spaces 27 and l28 are connected by a longitudinally extending passage 29 in the outer casing, see Fig. 2.

30 and 31 are division' pieces arranged at diametrically opposite points within the annularspace or chamber at the pump.' -d of the apparatus, as most clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 8, these division pieces servingto .divide this yannular space or chamber into two compartments. .32 and 33 are similar division pieces which are -arranged in the annular space-or chamber at the motor end of the apparatus (see Figs. 1, 6 and 10) and which divide said space or chamber into two compartments, as most clearly seen in Fig. 10.

34 isa reversing liquid-distributing valve of annular form, which 'is rotatably mounted onthe lcentral hub portion ofeXtension 8' of the .block 8. lThis valve has therein' 7a and 9, and.

and motor carriers by annular spaces j 46 lead from the inner chamberI 36. While the port arrangement is shown in part in a number of figures of thef drawing, the sys.

tem of ports, as a whole, andthe circulation therethrough will be best understood by reference to the diagram shown in Fig. 13. The block 8 is provided with the four ports 41, 42, 47 and 48 which communicate with' the annular pump chamber. The opposite side of the valve has the ports 49, 50, .53, 54, 56 and 57ports 49 andv 50 communicat- Aing with the outer'valve chamber 35, and

,ports 53, 54, 56 and 57 communicating with fthe inner valve chamber 36. The block 9 has the four ports 49a, 50a, 53a and 54 which lead to the annular motor chamber. rlhe mouths of these ports 49a, 50a, 53a and 54a, adjacent to the valve are enlarged or'A slotted, as shown, so that the port 53a may communicate with either of the ports 49 or 5s, nafiea'witheither 49 Orte; and the' port 54.a may vcommunicate with either of the ports 50 or 54, and 50@ with either150 or 57. The circulation through these ports will now be described. p

In the normal direction of rotation ofthe shaft 3, and`assumii1g the shaft'2 to be driven constantly by its prime motor in a clockwise direction and premising thatall the space within the inner casing, including the valve chambers and ports, is filled with a suitable' liquid, such as o il or glycerin, the

.operation and circulation is as follows:

Liquid is drawn out through the valve ports 38 and 40 and/)passes through the ports 41' and 42 into the annular pump chamber these two ports communicating with said chamber at opposite .sides of the division.

pieces 30 and 31, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

The positive rotation'of the pump causes the liquid to b e forced around the pump chamber between the division pieces and forced out through the' ports 47 and 48-and into the valve chamber through the ports 44 and 46. The liquid is forced from they inner valve chamber 36 to the moto-r chamber through the ports 53 and 54, and enters said chamber at opposite sides of the division pieces 32 and 33. By 'its pressure against the motor blades or vanes, it causes 4the rotation ofthe moto-r,'together with-the shaft 3, and the liquid escapes through the ports 49at and 50EL and returns to the-outer valve chamber through the ports 49 and 50 to be vagainfdrawninto the pump and cir- .culated therethrough. When the shaft 3 is to be driven inthe reverse direction Without reversing the shaft 2, the valve is actuated by means hereinafter to be described, so' 'that the ports 37 and 39takevthe place of the ports 38and 40, and the lport-s 43 and 45 take .the place of the ports 44 and 46. 4In eHect, the port 37 is simply an extension of the port 38, and the port 39 an extension of the port 40, the port 43A an extension of more or less of the annular pum-p and motor the port 44, and the port an'extension of the port 46, so that. the. direction of circulation of the liquid through the pump chamber is not changed .by this reversal of the valve. This reverse movement of the valve also connectsl the port 49 with the port 53 and the port 50 with the -port 54a. Ports 5?, and 54. are disconnected, respectively, from the ports 53a and 54a, and the ports 56 and 57 are brought into connection with the ports 49a and 50", respectively. This, as will be readily seen, efects a reverse circlilation through the' motor, since the liquid instead of entering* theA motor. chamber through theports 53a and 54ri and exhausting through the ports49f. and 50a will enter through the ports 49a and- 50a and Willexhanst through the ports 53v a'nd 54?. speed of the shaft. 3 will approximately equaltliat of the shaft 2 (leakage and other los'scs being taken into consideration). sov long` as'the effect-ive area of the p ump and piston blades remains lsubstantially thev same.` If the effective area of either sets of blades be changed, the relative speedsl of the tivo shafts -Will be varied accordingly, but without any change in the lpower trans- 1nitte`d, 'since increase'in speed of the shaft 3 relatively to the shaft v2, Will decrease the torque on the shaft 3, while a decrease in the speed of the shaft 3 will be attended by' a proportionate' increase inthe torque effort.

thereon. It ivill be readily seen, therefore, that by an endwisemovement of theregulating members -25 and 26, .to thereby close chambers, the relativeveifective areas' of the pump and'motor and their capacity c`an-bev varied at Will. Y Thus, if the inner casing which carries these regulating members be moved to the right,'looking at Fig. 1, the

annular pump space will be lengthened correspondingly to increase the capacity of the pump. At the same time, the annular motor space will be decreased to diminish ,the capacity of the motor. Each of these `effects increases the speed of rotation of the shaft- 3 relatively to the speediofv rotation of the shaft 2. On the contrary, if the inner casing be moved to the left, the pumping capacityv will be correspondingly diminished and that of the motor enlarged. Each of theseL effects a reduction in speed, but With an increase -lin torque on ythe shaft 3. Except, therefore, for variations in leakage and frictional losses, the power transinitted'is constant for all speeds of the shaft 3.

it will be' understoodfro-m Fig. 2 that 'the cani track projects the motor blades or vanes into the slots of the regulating members, sothat the regulating members rotate with the pump and motor elements. The cam slots 16 are, of course, so arranged that the blades or vanes will be retracted to their innermost positions at the time each `of them seen in Fig. 10.

The inner stationary blocks 8 and-9 are the other parts contained Within thecasing, there-beingvji'ist'space enough between the heads 5, 5to accommodate thevparts 7, 12, 8, 9, 17' and 7a. These blocks 8 and 9 are pre- Svented from turning by the'blocks 30, 31, 32 and 33, which are fastened tothe inner casing 22jand project into the slots 63 which are cut in the parts 8 and 9 in the nature'of key-Ways. The inner .casing 22 is keyed to vside of F ig.. 2, preventingthe turningof7 the part 22, but leaving such part free to Aslide longitudinally. -The blocks Sand 9-are sup- `ported-laterally by the inner casing 22, into .which they fit. The blocks 30, 31, 32 yand 33 Z aremoved simultaneously being fastened 5to the innercasing '22. x

Various mechanisms may beemployed .for effecting the endvvise movement of the inner casing to'regulate the capacities of the pump and motor, as above described, and also for Vshifting the valve. Vshovvn in the drawings for these purposes will novvl be described, reference`.being had' more particularly .to Figs. 2,9, 10,11 and 12. The outer casing of the apparatus is provided With the extension 4, o form aclo- -angularly directed endV portions 60 and 61. The-end section 21 of the inner'. casing has a.- stud v roller 62, projecting therefrom and that'when the slide is actuated to force .the 4stud roller 62 into the angular end portions endwise in one direction orthe other to the extent to which the 'slide'is lmoved. The vertical central portionV 59 of the slot is occupied by the stud roller 62 when the parts are in their neutral position. By moving the inner casing to the left (looking at Fig.

thatthe pump chamber can be entirely closed by the regulator 2'5, thus eliminating the pumping capacity entirely and stopping In order to permit this movement of the inn er casing 4With the regulators and the division pieces,-the'blocks 8 and 9 are slotted 63, in Figs. 7 and 8.

extension 4a at 65. The valve is provided with a tubular radially extending bearing sleeve 66 (see Fig. 11) in which is arranged to telescope a rod 67, having a ballend 68, which is engaged in a ball-shaped cavity in -a split bearing block 69, this block being passes one of the division pieces, .as clearlyA engaging thiscam slot. VIt will be apparent of the cam-slot, the lcasing? will be movedthe shaft 3 without stopping the shaft 2.

64 is a rocking arm foroperating the valve, this arm being pivoted to the casing a prevented from moving longitudinally bythe outercasing 4, as seen at the left-hand The means which are sure 'for a vertically movable slide plate 58. This lslide plate Vhas cut therein a cam slot which hasa yraight central portion 59 andl 1) -to its extreme posit-ion, it will be seen l.

12o to receive the division pieces, as shown/at' f circular and seated in a circular hole in the rocking arm 64. The arm 64 has therein an angular groove 70, which is engaged by a stud roller 7l, carried by the slide 5S..

72 is a slot which is cut in the inner casing for the clearance of the rod 67, t-his slot having a vertical central portion and horizontal end portions 72a.

By reference to Fig. 9, in whichh the stud roller 62 is shown1 approaching its neutral position, in which position the valve Ais to be reversed, it will b e apparent that a further downward movement of t-he slide 58 will cause the rocking arm 64 to rotate slightly on its pivot 65, thereby raising its right-hand end and rotating the valve by means of the rod 67, telescoping in the bear' ing sleeve 66. The clearance slot 72 is of such shape that the valve/can not be rotated except when the inner casing is in its neutral position, shaft 3 is at rest. The angular form ofthis slotlis such that when the stud roller 71 carried by the slide 58 is depressed, the arm 64 is turnedv until the lower portion of the groove 7() extends in a vertical direction.

Ior to in any The valve is then in its reversed position. The slide 58 may be operated in any suitable manner. In the drawing, I have illustrated a connecting rod 58a, 'which may vlead to any suitable operating mechanism. It will be apparent that through the movement of this single rod, the entire change of speed ratios in either direction is obtained from a dead stop to any speed up to the maximum for which the mechanism is designed. No clutch is necessary, and the number of speed changes is not limited. In order to change the speed or to reverse it is not necessary to disengage the driven shaft way interfere with the drive.

v I preferably provide the block 8 with an auxiliary port 73 (see Fig. l) which is arranged to connect the orts 37 and 44 of the valve when the parts are in neutral posit-ion, thereby connecting the two compartments 35 and 36 ofthe valve.

4The passage 29 of the casing', which connects the end spaces 27 and 28, is provided in order to allow the fluid to distribute between these two chambers when the inner casing is moved endwise in regulating the entire space within the cas-ing being filled with the liquid. It will be obvious, however, that instead of providing -niechanical means for moving the inner casing endwise .in regulating, the chambers 27 and 28 could be connected .with a source of hydraulic power, in which case'the connecting passage 29 would be omitted. l

The grooves l9'in the faces of the piston blades or vanes are-` provided so that the liquid can readily pass therethrough when the blades are forced outwardly into the slots in the regulating members.

or in other words, when the.

Lainate 'Ihe division pieces 32 and 33 are preferably provided with the holes or ports 74 and 7 5, respectively, (see Fig. 1) connecting the two compartments of the motor chamber; and the inner casing member 22 with the ports 76 and 77 (see Fig. 6) leading therethrough. The object of these ports is to permit the shaft-3 .to turn freely when the parts are in their neutral position. The ports are closed when the apparatus is in running condition, but are opened when thev inner casing and the regulating members are moved to the neutral position. The-ports 74 and 75 simply permit the fluid with which the mechanism is filled to` pass through the blocks 32 and 33; or, in other words, they act as by-pass ports. The ports 76 and 77 also act as by-passes, by permitting the fluid to pass from in front of the blades or pistons 18 through the walls of the inner casing 22 into the annular space between the inner and outer casings 22 and 4, whence it is free to again enter the inner casing behind the other blades or vanes. The ports 74 and 7 5 supplement the ports -7 6 and 77.

In practice, small passages may be left on theperiphery of the valve 34, so that the spaces between said valve and the blocks 30 and 32 and 31 and 33 may be placed in conimuiiication, to thereby permit free movement of the said blocks.

.It will also be obvious that the regulating -action might be obtained in a modified de- .gree by changing the capacity ofonly one of the elements, either the pump or the motor, and the broader of the appended claims are intended to cover such a modification. I prefer, however, to regulate by ehangingtlie capacity of both the pump and motorg, since the pressure on the cylinderregulating blocks is balanced, and they are enabled to motion of the inner casing is preferably so limited that the regulating blocks can never become disengaged from the blades or vanes.

While I have shown my invention as applied to the transmission of power, where the driving shaft and the driven shaft are in longitudinal alinement, it will be obvious that my invention is not limited thereto, and

that the two shafts might be at variousv mechanism may also be employed, and varilous other changes may be made in the conbe easily held in position. The' struction and arrangement of the details of the. apparatus, within the scope of the ap'- pended claims.

I claim:

l.- In .power -transmission appara-tus. a

driving element, a pump actuated thereby, a motor driven b y the pump, a driven element to which the motor is connected, and

regulating means whereby the spee'dpfthe motor and driven element may'be varied relatively .to the speed of the driving elemen'ttvithout changing the power transmitted, the pump and motor having' radially reciprocating piston blades of constant stroke and which rotate therewith, substantially as described. i

2. In powertransmission apparatus, a driving element, a pump actuated thereby, a motor driven by the pump, adriven ele-V ment actuated by,the motor, and means for increasing or decreasing the speed of the vmotor and its driven element and forcorrespondigly decreasing or increasing the 'torque exerted by said element, the pump and motor having radially reciprocating pis` ton blades of constant stroke and which rotate therewith, substantially as described.

3. In power-transmission apparatus, a driving element, a pump actuated thereby, a motor driven by the pump, a ldriven element carrying the motor and driven thereby, and means for varying the capacity of the motor, the pump and motor having radially recip-l rocating piston blades of constant stroke and which rotate therewith,,substantially as described.

I4. In power.- transmission apparatus, a driving element, a pump actuated thereby, a motor'driven by the pump, a driven Aelement carrying the motor and driven thereby, and means for varying the effective piston area f the motor, ,the ,pump and motor having radially reciprocatingpiston blades of constant stroke and which rotate` therewith,

substantially as described. Y 5; In powertransmission apparatus, a,

'driving element, apump actuated thereby, a

Y motor driven by the pump, a driven Ielement carrying the motor and driven'thereby, and' reay means for varying the eiiect-ive pisto of the pump, the pump and motor having radiallyreciprocating piston blades of con' stant stroke, substantially as described.

6. In power transmission apparatus. a

driving element, a pump actuated thereby, a

motor driven by the pump, a driven element carrying the motor and driven thereby, and connected and simultaneously longitudinally movable means for varying the capacity of both the motor andfthe pump, substantially as described.

7. In power transmission apparatus, a driving element, a pump actu ted'thereby, a

motor driven by the pump, a riven element carrying the/motor and driven thereby, and

connected and. simultaneously longitudinally movable means for varying the eii'ectlve `p1s ton areas of both the motor and the pump,

-. substantially as described.

8. In power -transmission apparatus, a

driving element, a pump actuated thereby, a.

motor driven by the pump, a driven element carrying the motor and driven thereby, and longitudinally movable means for increasing and decreasing the capacity of Jthe pump andl simultaneously vdecreasing or increasing the capacity of the motor to lsubstantially the same extent, substantially as described.

49. In power-transmission apparatus,` a drivmg element, a pump actuated thereby, a motor driven-by the pump, a driven element .carrying the motor and driven thereby, a

closed liquid circulating system connecting the motor and pump, and a distributing and reversing valve interposed in said system and means rotating With the motor and stantiallyl as described.,

10. In power-transmission apparatus, a. driving element, a pump actuated thereby, a

.pump for varying the capacity thereof, sub- 'motor driven by the pump, and connected 'reversing valve interposed in said system,

said valve having'aplurality-of ports leading to both the pump chamber and the motor pump, and means rotating with the motor and pump for varying the capacity thereof,

substantially as described.

' 12. In power-transmission apparatus, a

driving element, -a lplump actuated thereby, a motor driven by the pump, a driven element to whichvthe motor is attached, a closed liquid circulating system connecting the motor and pump, and longitudinally movable means for increasing or decreasing thecapacity of the pump'and simultaneously decreasing or increasing the capacity iof the motor to. a similar extent, said means -also being adapted tov entirely eliminate the pumping capacity, substantially as described. f

13. In apparatus of the gcharacte'r described,`a rotary pump element of the type having radially reciprocating piston blades and having a surrounding pump space or chamber,- and a regulating device movable y longitudinally on the pump element to thereby vary the capacity of said chamber, substantially as described.

14. In apparatus of the character described,a rotary motor element having radially reciprocating'piston blades, and also* having a surrounding ump space or chamber, and a regulating evice movable longitudinally on the motor element to vary the capacityY of said chamber, substantially as described. Y

15. In power-transmission apparatus, a rotary pump element, a rotary motor element, each ofsaid elements having a -surrounding space or chamber, each of said elements having radially reciprocating piston blades, a closed lliquid circulating system connecting said spaces or chambers, a regulating member movable longitudinally in each of said chambers to vary the capacity thereof, and means for simultaneously actuating the two regulating members, substantially as described.

16. In power-transmission apparatus, the combination with a rotary element having a plurality of radially movable piston blades 'or vanes, of a regulating member mounted on the rotary member and having slots therein to be engaged by the blades or vanes, said i' regulating member being also movable longitudinally on the rotary member to thereby vary the effective capacity of the blades or vanes, substantially as described.

17. In power-transmission apparatus, a driving sha-ft, a pump element mounted thereon, a driven shaft, a motor'element carried thereby, an outer casing, an inner end- Wise movable casing, a closed liquid circulating system connecting the pump and motor elements, and regulators for varying the capacity of the pump and motor elements carried by the inner casing and movable end- Wise therewith, substantially as described.

18. In power-transmission apparatus, a driving shaft, a pump element carried thereby, a driven shaft, a motor element for driving said shaft and connected thereto, a closed liquid circulating system connecting the pump and motor elements, a reversing and l distributing valve interposed in said system,

minata a regulator for varying the capacity of the pump and motorpelements and arranged to revolve with said elements, and a single actuating mechanism for the valve and for the regulator, substantially as described.

19. In power transmission apparatus, the

combination with a driving member, a pump carried thereby, a driven member, a motor for operating the driven member, the apparatus having acloscd liquid circulating system connecting the pump and motor, and relief ports for the motor arranged to be automatically vbrought into action to permit the free motion of the motor element when the pumping capacity of the; pump element is eliminated; substantially as described.

20. In power transmission apparatus, the combination With a driving member, a pump carried thereby, a driven member, a motor for actuating the driven member, the apparatus'having a closed liquid circulating system connecting the pump and motor, means 'for eliminating the pumping capacity of the said device being movable longitudinally over the element to cover a greater or less area of said blades, and thereby vary the capacity of the said elements; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

. HERBERT E. WHITE. Witnesses:

O. D. KAISER, CEAS. I-I. Cmnt. 

